Chapter 253: To Compromise or Not?

At 12:55 AM.

Media reporters outside the Supervision Assembly compound were all cleared out, withdrawing from the hostage area. After all, as official media, their position couldn't allow them to record footage of Political Assistance compromising and releasing bandits - they could only report news content authorized from above.

After the media left, the special forces, special police squads, and garrison troops sealing off the scene all cleared designated street positions, withdrawing to both sides to give the Chi Army space to leave.

In an SUV, Su Tianyu, as an inside person, was treated quite well. He wasn't hooded with a black mask or beaten, just handcuffed sitting in the back seat.

In the passenger seat, Zhu Bajie kept giving commands on his walkie-talkie. Su Tianyu looked at the back of his head, hesitating before speaking: "Chief, Commander Zhao went back on his word!"

Hearing this, Zhu Bajie turned back: "Those two people are useful."

"Hehe, I risked losing my head to tell you the information," Su Tianyu replied forcing himself.

"Commander Zhao had me pass you a message - regarding the information matter, he owes you a favor, but that Jing Yan can't die for now - he's useful," Zhu Bajie replied expressionlessly.

Hearing this, Su Tianyu felt somewhat unhappy but couldn't argue - after all, they held the guns - one extra word might get you shot in the mouth, so he could only endure. As for Zhu Bajie saying Commander Zhao owed him a favor, Su Tianyu didn't believe it either.

All old foxes - words spoken and promises made at this time were likely all nonsense.

Su Tianyu rubbed his palms on his pants, pausing before continuing to ask: "Then... what about that other matter I mentioned?"

"That's no problem - as long as it's safe, we'll give you the person," Zhu Bajie replied directly.

"...!" Su Tianyu nodded, saying nothing more.

......

After being released, Yu Mingyuan was pulled aside by police to record on-scene testimony, but with too many released people and not enough police staff, they had to queue for testimony.

Finally with no choice, Yu Mingyuan called in connections to borrow a phone first, immediately contacting Wen Zhanbo from the Longkou District Police Division, specifically having him send people to pick him up.

When all hostage-carrying vehicles had left the Supervision Assembly, Yu Mingyuan had just left the Police Division, directly taking a car to Wen Zhanbo's place to discuss how to communicate under the table with the Chi Army.

......

The Chi Army left the Supervision Assembly hostage scene in batches, gradually leaving the city district.

During this time, both sides showed restraint - no firefights occurred, not even basic confrontations.

The city command center gave all green lights letting Chi Army people withdraw, while the Chi Army side orderly escaped according to Plan A, heading toward the Kasalo border area.

Around 2:40 AM.

Nearly 300 Chi Army soldiers and dozens of vehicles had approached the border between Kasalo region and Dragon City - the terrain here was similar to other Old Mo regions, surrounded by mountains and forests with complex geography.

According to the agreed trade terms, they would conduct the final hostage exchange here.

In an inconspicuous car in the middle of the convoy, Zhao Weihu held a walkie-talkie, saying softly to Zhu Bajie: "Have the receiving personnel arrived?"

"Arrived, outside the line," Zhu Bajie replied.

"Negotiate with them, want Old Huang. Except for Karl, Li Mingsheng, and Secretary-General Lu who can't be given up, others can be handed over," Zhao Weihu instructed.

"Understood!"

After their communication finished, the guard battalion commander, as first commander of this Chi Army operation, directly connected with the city command center to begin negotiations.

In the dialogue, the city command center representative said unequivocally: "This is the final hostage exchange location - don't drag on, we also won't take hard measures."

"Impossible!" The guard battalion commander said frowning: "We need to take several Dragon City high officials across the line to ensure you won't launch attacks against us."

"What if you cross the line and don't release the hostages?"

"To ensure fairness in hostage exchange, we agree to let you keep some of our people as final exchange," the guard battalion commander added. "But the personnel we request for exchange this time, you must hand over."

"That's impossible...!"

"If you say impossible, I'll kill hostages - I still have nearly thirty white people - I'll kill half, then we'll talk."

"...!"

The negotiation content was very intense - after arguing for a full ten-plus minutes, when the Chi Army prepared to forcibly kill a batch of white hostages, the city command center chose to compromise.

This was ordered by the Garrison Corps Commander - his main task was ensuring white civil servants' and leading cadres' life safety - otherwise if this group died, no one could cover it up - likely he'd have to step down as commander too.

After reaching consensus again, both sides exchanged hostages near the border. The Chi Army side released twenty-eight white hostages, only keeping Jing Yan, Li Mingsheng, Su Tianyu, Karl, Secretary-General Lu, and six Chinese civil servants.

The city side released Old Huang and six Chi Army investor hostages, currently still holding about eight people.

During the hostage exchange, Zhao Weihu ordered officers beside him to find Jing Yan.

"Make calls, fulfill your use," the officer said pointing his gun at Jing Yan. "If you're useless, you definitely won't have a chance to return to Dragon City."

Jing Yan looked at him, slowly nodding.

......

Around 3 AM.

After exchanging hostages, the Chi Army convoy set out again, driving into Kasalo territory.

At this critical moment, Dragon City's upper levels had already broken into very intense verbal conflict between the civil affairs party faction led by Li Mingsheng and the republican party faction.

Meanwhile, in Zone One's capital, the chairman of the Zone's highest assembly sat in the conference room, saying with furrowed brows: "Gentlemen, I believe the Zone's Political Assistance cannot possibly compromise with terrorists, much less let them massacre over a hundred civil servants and leave swaggering!"

"Chairman sir, you should know the Dragon City mayor is still in the bandits' hands."

"Of course I know, and I understand - mayors can be replaced, but if public trust and Political Assistance's emergency handling ability are lost, we have no way to answer to the people..." the Zone chairman said resoundingly. "Toward extremists, we only need to pick up guns and artillery."

......

In Dragon City's command center.

"We should prioritize ensuring the mayor's safety...!"

"I disagree - the autonomous government has no reason to compromise with terrorists!"

"...!"

Voices of tearing, arguing and even cursing rang through the conference room, while Dragon City's Garrison Corps Commander rested his chin, quietly waiting.

He was waiting for orders - waiting for orders from above!